SPECIFIC HEAT OF METALS
Objectives(Studentlearning outcomes):
At the end of this experiment,a successfulstudentwill be able:
* to apply the definition of specificbeatof material.
* to determinethe specificheatof threesamplesof different metals.
* to usesomeapparatusto measurethe specificheatof material.
Apparatus:
Electric hot plate,calorimeterwith stirrer,two thermometers,metal samples,digital balance,400 ml Pyrex
beaker,light cords
Procedure:
i. Using the digital balance,weigh the threemetal samples,and recordtheir massesin gramsin the
table below. Weigh the calorimeter(inner cup and stirrer) and recordthe massesin gramsin the
table.
Calorimeter
Aluminum sample Coppersample
(inner cup * stirrer)
Iron sample
massin grams
2. Fill the Pyrex beakerapproximately75 percentfull of water and startit boiling on the electrichot
plate.Carefuliy suspenda sampleof aluminumfrom the overheadsupportusing the light cord
provided.Themetalsampleshouldbe completelysubmerged,
but not quitetouchthe bottomof the
beaker.
3. Fill the calorimeterinner cup about2l3 full with cold tap water. Weigh the calorimetercup and
stirrerplus the water containedin it, andrecordthis massin the calculationtable.Placethe
calorimetercup and contentsin its insulatedjacket and place a thermometerthroughthe opening
provided.
4. Whenthe temperatureof the boiling waterhasstabilizednear 1000C, read andrecord the
temperatureof the boiling water and waterin the caiorimeterin the calculationtable. Without
delay,transferthe heatedaluminumsampleto the calorimetercup, and after replacingthe lid of the
calorimeter,usethe stirrerto gently stir the waterin the cup to affectmixing. Whenthe temperature
of the calorimeterand contentreachesthe maximumtemperature.recordthis temperatureasthe
equilibriumtemperaturein the table.
5. Repeatthe procedure2,3,and4 for the copperandiron samples,andrecordthe conesponding
in the calculationtable.
measurements
6. Using appropriateequationand datacollectedin the table, computean experimentalvalue for the
specificheat of aluminum.Computethe percenterror betweenyour experimentalvalue for the
specificheatof aluminumandthe standardvalue given in the datatable. Showall work in the space
provided.
7. Using appropriateequationand datacollectedin the table, computean experimentalvalue for the
specificheatof copper.Computethe percentenor betweenyour experimentalvalue for the specific
heatof copperand the standardvalue given in the table. Show all work in the spacebelow.
8.
Using appropriateequationand datacollectedin the table,computean experimentalvalue for the
specificheatof iron. Computethe percenterror betweenyour experimentalvalue for the specific
heatof iron andthe standardvalue siven in the table. Show all work in the spacebelow.
Aluminum
Copper
Iron
0.215call(g" C)
0 . 0 9 2 4c a ll(g ' C)
0 . 1 0 7c a ll ( g " C )
Massof sample(gram)
Massof calorimeterandcold water
(grain)
Massof cold water(gram)
Initial temperature
of cold water
Temperatureof boiling water
Equilibrium temperafure
Specific heat(experimental)
Specific heat(standard)
Percenteruor(%)
Questions
l.
If theternperature
of a 20.0 gobjectincreases
by 5.0o C, when 20.0 calof heataretransferred
to it,
what is the specificheatof the object?
2. What is the temperatureincreaseof 4.00kg waterwhen heatedby a 800 watts immersionheaterfor
10.0min?
of
3. A 100g pieceof copper,initially at 95,0C , is droppedinto 200 g of water.If initial temperature
water is 15 C, what is final temperatureof the system,if the heatlost to surounding is ignored?